# Shuddering Engine While Idling **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, malibu\ **Created:** [May 9, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043 "2020-05-09T01:46:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/1 "2020-05-09T01:46:23Z")
Today my Chevy Malibu’s engine shuddered when it turned on, and then shuddered to a complete stop. It makes this noise while idle, and it hesitated a bit when changing gears (it’s an automatic though). I think it might be the spark plugs but I have no idea. Any help or opinions would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/2 "2020-05-09T01:49:05Z")
What year Malibu? Tester ---
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/3 "2020-05-09T01:51:07Z")
2011 Chevy Malibu ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/4 "2020-05-09T01:55:07Z")
Have someone who knows what they’re doing clean the electronic throttle body. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/f/cf499b03cc8594542629fde250a8fa066d901c6c.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/5 "2020-05-09T02:10:54Z")
engine oil level correct? coolant level correct? check engine light on and/or flashing at idle . . . ?! ---
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/6 "2020-05-09T02:19:10Z")
Engine oil was low, I filled it up but still same issue. Coolant level is correct and check engine light is on, not flashing, at idle. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/7 "2020-05-09T02:23:16Z")
How low was the oil? ---
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/8 "2020-05-09T02:26:55Z")
It was almost empty. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/9 "2020-05-09T02:30:53Z")
If that’s true, then you probably have some expensive engine damage, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/10 "2020-05-09T03:04:02Z")
I topped the oil off a few months ago, so would it still have major problems if it hasn’t been completely full for an extended time period? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/11 "2020-05-09T03:15:52Z")
“Almost empty” would be 4 quarts low. The engine oil dipstick only reaches the top 1 1/2 quarts, when the oil level is at the add mark, the engine is 1 quart low. ---
**Author:** ![jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonathongutierrez2_167138)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/12 "2020-05-09T03:20:22Z")
I did not know that. The oil level was just below the low mark when I filled it today ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/13 "2020-05-09T03:27:16Z")
Don’t worry about engine damage, the engine wasn’t critically low on oil. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/14 "2020-05-09T03:46:30Z")
Oil should be checked and topped up if necessary weekly. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/15 "2020-05-09T12:10:19Z")
> [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](#): > > I did not know that You can fix that… read your owners manual. It explains how to check your oil and how often. It explains a whole lot of other things as well. It won’t tell you how to fix this shudder but it does explain what you should do when the check engine light comes on, or flashes, or the red oil warning light comes on. If you don’t have one in your glove-box… here is a PDF copy > **[Manuals and Guides | Vehicle Support | Chevy](https://www.chevrolet.com/support/vehicle/manuals-guides)** > > Explore Chevy Vehicle's Owner Manuals and Guides to help guide you with understanding your Chevy vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/16 "2020-05-09T12:25:44Z")
> [@jonathongutierrez2\_167138](#): > > It was almost empty. 😮 > [@old\_mopar\_guy](#): > > Oil should be checked and topped up if necessary weekly. +1 Until the OP can get a handle on the rate of oil consumption, he needs to check the dipstick _at least_ once a week. The oil should be replenished as soon as it is 1/2 qt low. ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shuddering-engine-while-idling/164043/17 "2020-05-09T13:09:22Z")
The shuddering could be caused by a number of things. It would be most helpful if you had the engine codes read at a parts store and post them here. And tell us how many miles are on it and how you’ve kept up on vehicle maintenance.